Hanoi strengthens implementation of regulations on safety control of mini apartments

The Hanoi People's Committee has just issued Official Dispatch No. 3690/UBND-SXD on strengthening the implementation of legal regulations on construction and safety control of old apartment buildings, multi-storey, multi-apartment detached houses (commonly known as mini apartments).

Review of the building's parking area

Accordingly, Hanoi requests departments, branches, sectors, People's Committees of districts, towns to strengthen the implementation of legal regulations on construction, safety control of multi-storey and multi-apartment individual houses; continue to implement the contents directed by the City Chairman in Official Dispatch No. 02/CD-UBND dated September 13, 2023. Study and implement the instructions of the Ministry of Construction in Official Dispatch No. 4157/BXD-QLN dated June 15, 2023.

City leaders requested the People's Committees of districts, towns and cities to immediately implement solutions to minimize safety risks for multi-storey, multi-apartment individual housing projects.

Specifically, for parking areas at residential buildings, investors and owners of buildings are required to arrange sufficient parking areas for two-wheeled vehicles: investors and owners of buildings are responsible for reviewing the parking areas of the buildings; referring to and applying the design of parking areas for multi-storey, multi-apartment individual houses as prescribed for apartment buildings.

According to QCVN 04:2021/BXD National technical regulation on apartment buildings (section 2.2.17), parking spaces in apartment buildings must be calculated to ensure a minimum of 6m2 of parking space for motorbikes and bicycles for each apartment (social housing, resettlement housing and low-income housing must also comply with the above regulations); the parking area includes the internal roads of the parking area.

Multi-storey, multi-apartment individual housing projects must review and rearrange the entire parking area to ensure a minimum area of ​​6 square meters for motorbike and bicycle parking for each apartment.

In case the parking area cannot be guaranteed according to the number of apartments/residents in the building, there must be a plan to park the vehicle outside the building to ensure the prescribed standards, at the same time, ensure the distance between vehicles, fire prevention solutions; separate the parking area from the apartment lobby, staircase. There are regulations on the use of means of transport in the building.

Control the design of parking areas and arrange escape routes.

The charging area for electric vehicles (if any) must be arranged separately to ensure a safe distance from surrounding vehicles; batteries must not be charged overnight; the charger must be compatible with the vehicle's battery system; the battery charging process must be monitored for safety; and specialized fire-fighting equipment must be added to handle electric vehicle battery explosions.

For projects that have been put into use, research and immediately implement the proposed solutions as above. Organize a review and develop an escape plan to ensure safety in case of an incident, mobilize the removal/cutting of tiger cages, and create escape routes in case of fire safety problems at each project. Immediately implement solutions to separate the parking area from the living area. Review the conditions of fire escapes and escape routes, and add escape routes to ensure compliance with current fire prevention regulations.

In addition, investors and building owners are required to develop an operation management plan and arrange healthy and experienced people to manage and operate the building; coordinate and mobilize households to purchase basic fire prevention and fighting equipment to ensure fire safety; regularly propagate and remind households and individuals to comply with and strictly comply with regulations on building operation management and fire prevention, fighting and rescue.

Hanoi also requested the People's Committees of districts, towns, People's Committees of communes, wards and towns to coordinate with the police and local fire prevention and fighting forces to review all constructions to detect violations of fire prevention and fighting; conduct inspections and guide owners to invest in essential equipment for fire prevention and fighting such as: fire alarms, signs, rechargeable lights, etc.

Develop plans for fire prevention, fire fighting, rescue and relief. Strengthen propaganda and training for households on fire prevention, fire fighting, rescue and relief and plans for handling construction incidents (especially fire and explosion incidents).

For new construction works (if any), strictly control compliance with legal regulations on planning, construction, fire prevention and fighting, management of construction licensing, quality management, and construction order management according to regulations, including ensuring control of the design of parking areas, arrangement of escape routes, power supply systems; fire prevention and fighting systems of works; organizations and individuals designing and examining designs must have sufficient capacity according to legal regulations.

For old apartment buildings, the People's Committees of districts, towns and cities must immediately implement solutions to minimize safety risks such as: organizing reviews and developing escape plans to ensure safety in case of incidents, mobilizing the removal/cutting of tiger cages, and creating escape routes in case of fire and explosion safety risks at each building.

“The Department of Construction and the People's Committees of districts, towns and cities must have solutions to speed up the progress and urgently complete the inspection of old apartment buildings and old apartment buildings; propose plans to ensure safety for old apartment buildings in general and old apartment buildings with level D dangers that have been recommended to relocate people... to avoid construction incidents that cause insecurity for people and property,” the city leader added.